Committee and others, the freemen of the Lower District of said County; a Memorial from Captain Edward Veazey, of the Seventh Independent Company, of Regular Troops; and a Remonstrance from the Committee of Observation for Talbot County, were severally read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Hollyday brings in and delivers to Mr. President a Report from the Committee appointed to examine the papers laid before the Convention by the Council of Safety, relative to the conduct of the said Samuel Purviance, Jun.; which was read a first and second time, and follows in these words, to wit:

“By the Committee appointed to examine the papers laid before the Convention by the Council of Safety, relative to the conduct of Samuel Purviance, Jun., of Baltimore Town, &c.

“Your Committee do report, that they have examined the papers laid before the Convention, from which it appears to your Committee that the charge arising from the said papers falls under the following heads:

“First. That the said Samuel Purviance, since the rising of the last Convention, hath usurped a power to direct the operations of the military force of this Province, (at a time when the Council of Safety, to whom the same solely and properly belongs in the recess of Convention, was sitting, and might, without inconvenience, have been applied to,) as appears by his letter of instructions to Captain Samuel Smith, of Colonel Smallwood’s Battalion, bearing date the 14th day of April last, a copy of which, attested by the Clerk of the Council of Safety, your Committee refer to.

“Secondly, That the said Samuel Purviance, being (at the time of his writing the said letter, and giving the said instructions) Chairman of the Committee of Baltimore County, did write the said letter, and give the said instructions, under colour of his said office of Chairman, and as if at the request of the said Committee; whereas the said Committee were not consulted thereon, nor made acquainted therewith, as appears by the said letter and instructions, and by the proceedings of the said Committee, attested copies whereof, among the said papers, are referred to.

“Thirdly, That the said Samuel Purviance, by writing and speaking, and particularly by a letter by him written to the President of the Congress, some time about the middle of April last, hath unjustly represented the Convention and Council of Safety as irresolute and afraid to execute the trusts reposed in them, and endeavoured to draw a suspicion upon them of a want of spirit and zeal in the execution of their duty.

“All which is humbly submitted to the consideration of the honourable Convention.

“By order:

“R.RIDGELY, Clerk Com. ”

On consideration whereof,

Resolved, That Thursday next be appointed for the appearance of Samuel Purviance, Jun., to answer the charge exhibited against him; but if it should appear, by affidavit, that Mr. John Smith (whose testimony Mr. Purviance alleges is material to him) cannot be had here on that day, then the Convention do order that Mr. Purviance shall appear as aforesaid on the Saturday following, at nine o’clock.

Mr. Mackall and Mr. Buchanan appeared in the House.

On reading a second time the Petition of James Hutchings, of Queen Anne’s County, against the conduct of Samuel Purviance, Jun.,

Resolved, That the same be taken into consideration on Thursday next.

The Proposals of Henry Hollingsworth being read a second time,

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to consider of the same, and report their opinion thereon.

And Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Ringgold, and Mr. Rumsey, were elected by ballot a Committee for that purpose.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, nine o’clock.

Saturday, May 11, 1776.

Convention met. All Members present as on yesterday. The Proceedings of yesterday were read.

A Petition from George French, Sheriff, and Joshua Tesstil, one of the Deputy Sheriffs of Frederick County; a Petition from Abraham Linganfelter, David Alspaugh, and Henry Barnes, languishing Debtors in Frederick County Jail; and a Petition from Philemon Downes, late Sheriff of Queen Anne’s County, were severally read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That all Petitions relative to Proceedings of Committees of Observation against Non-Enrollers be referred to the Committee appointed to examine into the facts set forth in the Petition of William Faris.

Mr. Allein and Mr. Plater have leave of absence till Monday next.

On reading a second time the Proceedings of the Committee of Observation for Prince George’s County, of the 6th instant, relative to the Rev. Mr. John Eversfield and Mr. Ralph Forster,

Resolved, That the Resolutions of the last session of Convention sufficiently provide for the case stated in the said Proceedings of the Committee.

Mr. Reider has leave of absence.

On reading a second time the Petition of Robert Wood, of Frederick County,

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to consider of the same, and report their opinion thereon.

And Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Beatty, and Mr. J. T. Chase, were elected by ballot a Committee for that purpose.

On motion, Resolved, That this Convention will, on Monday next, resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into consideration the late intercepted Letters to Governour Eden, the Proceedings of the Continental Congress, and of the Council of Safety of this Province thereupon.

Mr. Ringgold and Mr. Nicholson have leave of absence till Monday next.

Convention adjourns till Monday morning, nine o’clock.

Monday, May 13, 1776.

Convention met. All Members present as on Saturday, except Mr. Reider, Mr. Nicholson, and Mr. Allein.

The Proceedings of Saturday were read.

The Proceedings of the Committee of Observation for Calvert County, on the complaint of Joseph Wilkinson against James Weems, were read, and ordered to lie on the table.

On motion, Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to examine and adjust the several claims on the Treasury.

And Mr. Earle, Mr. Contee, Mr. Tolley, Mr. Hooe, and Mr. Chamberlaine, were elected by ballot a Committee for that purpose.

The Petition of Purnal Johnson was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. Dallam appeared in the House.

On reading a second time the Petition of Philemon Downes, late Sheriff of Queen Anne’s County, and considering the same,

Resolved, That the case therein stated is provided for in the Resolutions of the Convention, held the 26th of July last; and that the Committee for licensing suits in Queen Anne’s County ought to grant licenses to sue or warrant, as the case may require, under the limitations expressed in the said Resolves of July.

The Memorial of Francis Baker, of Talbot County, was read a second time, and considered,

And thereupon Resolved, That the same be rejected.

On considering the Representation from the Committee of Talbot County, of the case of Alexander Wickham,

Resolved, That he be discharged, being a person too insignificant and contemptible for the further notice of this Convention.

On motion, Resolved, That in all cases in which the Council of Safety, or any Committee of Observation within this Province, shall be in want of a Witness or Witnesses, in any fact properly depending before them, that they issue subpoena, requiring the attendance of the said Witness or Witnesses, at a time and place by the said Council or Committee to be appointed; and in case of disobedience, that they issue attachment of contempt, directed to some Captain of the Militia, requiring him to take the body of the Witness